[My original review was placed in 2017 but I’ve had a few MORE things to say here since then!]

I am so grateful to have finally seen this pilot at a moment in time when I needed it the most. Small clippings and photos don’t reveal the content of what might have become a new beloved cast for years afterward, and it wasn’t fair that only a privileged few would be allowed to see it and dictate to us what to believe about it.

I was once irked that Alec Newman was younger than I was in first performing the role of Barnabas Collins. Now that I’ve seen him do it, I take it all back. He had the romance, mystery, and a wonderful voice that knocked my socks off. All the performers were splendid (even if it was difficult to view them perfectly). Amazing lines and dialogue too! More over it’s helpful to understand what Curtis was shooting for in retelling the story in the revival series with this installment. The ending of this pilot makes it very clear. A supernatural family, reincarnation, romance, even an intended revenge should the villain return, second chances to come whether or not they succeed.

This presentation leads us to what the 2012 film producers were also inspired by. Most of the creators of that production were fans of the original. (Not that many acknowledge that these days.)

+: I truly believe the 13+ people favouriting this entry on archive should bloody well SPEAK UP!

For anyone who can’t handle that Barnabas and a REINCARNATION of Josette happens to be the MAIN ROMANCE of Dark Shadows? All I can tell you is: Watch another show for Christ's sake!

[Or, in other words, it is NOT Julia/Barnabas: GET OVER IT! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! And I definitely feel we get another AWESOME Doctor Hoffman in this installment. DUH!]


Thank you to the uploader, and thank you, Dan Curtis, whose name appears on the credits. Rest in peace when need be, but never stop haunting us with your fantastic ideas. Some of us fans still love you, and I’m one of them.

That this little "gem" wasn't immediately snatched up. It has all the subtlety of a load of bricks and the garish lighting *all the way through* gets a bit annoying. Elizabeth is not regal and all the teen girls look and behave like this is a wannabe R-rated grade z flick.

Not the best copy of the pilot but very thankful we can finally get to see what the clueless suits at WB passed on.

Much better than the horrible Tim Burton/Johnny Depp fiasco from a few years back, more colorful and sexier but very faithful to the original Dark Shadows and filled with scares.

It's a real shame this never made to series since the pilot shows signs of what could have been a great entry in the Dark Shadows franchise.